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Daily industrial news and top headlines for plant and maintenance managers

Several automakers are developing plug-in hybrid vehicles and electric cars that could help meet President Barack Obama's goal of putting 1 million plug-in hybrids on the road by 2015. Many industry officials say the goal is a worthy one but will be difficult to meet. A look at the work by some auto manufacturers:
GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

BEI Industrial Encoders has released the SwiftComm wireless interface for encoders, designed for motion control applications. The encoders provide a wireless signal in real time over a secure network. According to BEI, the SwiftComm series is unlike other wireless technology such as Wi-Fi because of its fast boot-up and transmission time, which allow it to seamlessly interface with existing control systems.

Mule-Hide has a number of maintenance and repair solutions that are available in various sizes. Its EPDM tapes come in 3” or 6” wide by 25’ long, and 3”, 6” or 12” wide by 25’ long. EPDM tape primer is also available in 1 gallon or 5 gallon containers.

Inventories dropped in February, but sales rose for the first time since the summer. Wholesalers cut their inventories in February by the steepest amount in more than 17 years, but sales rose for the first time since the summer, encouraging signs that companies may be getting their inventories under control.

New Breed has received another contract from Boeing to operate a distribution and supply support program. HIGH POINT, N.C., April 8 /PRNewswire/ -- New Breed Logistics, Inc., has announced that they have received a contract from Boeing Integrated Defense Systems to operate a distribution and supply support program at Boeing's Global Services & Support site in San Antonio, Texas.

Hostage-taking has re-emerged as a popular negotiating tactic among frustrated French workers. French workers on Wednesday released four managers they had held captive overnight at a British-run factory following a labor dispute over the plant's closure, officials said. The managers at the plant in the foothills of the French Alps, run by Britain's Scapa Group PLC, were allowed to leave the site to attend negotiations Wednesday at the local mayor's office.

Jim Press says the government has provided the automaker ample time to complete a deal with Fiat. Chrysler's president says the government has provided the automaker ample time to complete a deal with Fiat. Jim Press said Wednesday at the New York International Auto Show that Chrysler would prefer signing a definitive agreement before the May 1 deadline so it can "get back to business as usual.

Bishamon Industries Corporation recently released the UniLift™, designed to make the transportation and ergonomic positioning of a standard GMA pallet or skid possible without having to straddle the device. According to Bishamon, the deployable outrigger design gives UniLift™ the handling and steering characteristics of a standard pallet jack.

The all new Camo from Snap On® footwear, manufactured under license by Coastal Boot, is made with a leather upper and waterproof SympaTex Reflexion®, which has insulation properties equivalent to 400 grams of Thinsulate® without the added bulk. Measuring 6 1/2” in height, the Camo sports a polyurethane outsole and Smartmask® sock liners for cushioning, shock absorption and comfort.

The double-ferrule, instrumentation-grade tube fittings from Brennan Industries feature interchangeable nut and ferrule sets, allowing the use of one manufacturer’s set within the body of another’s. With design characteristics that are comparable in form, function and fit to several other manufacturers, the fittings are also intermixable.

The latest pump from PIAB is the P6040. It uses PIAB's COAX® technology to generate low and high suction in a small package. According to PIAB, the pump’s compact size allows it to be mounted close to the point of suction, reducing energy costs by up to 25 percent.

The Elite Smoker Cease-Fire is a next level ash tray designed to keep facilities free of cigarette butt litter. It also uses a double-drip edge to keep tar build-up on the inside, and a removable steel pail to gather the butts. Justrite Manufacturing built the receptacle from fire-resistant polyethylene, which was fire tested and approved by FM Global.

PowerBoss has released the Phoenix 35, a walk-behind scrubber that can cover up to 45,208 square feet per hour. The 33" scrubber has a 4" offset for edge scrubs along walls and 30 gallon tanks for solution and recovery. It's designed to be maneuverable and uses easy to understand controls.

Designed by Tri-Tronics Company Inc., the Smarteye® X-Pro model XPC is built for companies that require multi-drop sensor feedback for overall process control. This photoelectric communication sensor provides users with complete remote control from an onboard HMI or central plant control station.

Utility giant British Gas Business recognizes the financial pressure facing consumers and small businesses.
British Gas Business, the market leading small business gas and electricity supplier, is preparing to let up to 40,000 customers defer paying their bills to help them through the recession.

Peter Horbury, executive director of Ford Americas design, is heading back to Volvo as Ford tries to sell the Swedish carmaker. Ford Motor says its leading design director is heading to Volvo, as the company tries to sell the Swedish carmaker. Peter Horbury, executive director of Ford Americas design, will move to Volvo and become vice president of design.

3M Co. is cutting “several hundred” jobs in Minnesota as part of further global work force reductions. 3M Co. is cutting its worldwide work force by another 1,200 jobs, or 1.5 percent, because of the global economic slump.

The Institute for Supply Management revealed a better than expected manufacturing index for February, suggesting contraction may be nearing an end. Construction spending fell for a fifth straight month in February, but the results were better than expected and along with other economic reports, suggested contraction may be nearing an end.

Bombardier said Monday the firm order from Lease Corporation International Aviation Ltd., which leases aircraft to major airlines including Singapore Airlines, British Airways, Air France, SAS and Virgin Atlantic, comes with options for a further 20 jets.

The governor signed identical House and Senate bills Monday that would reduce the tax from 3.875 percent to 3.125 percent. The bills are sponsored by Rep. David Dunn, D-Forrest City, and Sen. Barbara Horn, D-Ashdown.